On the way back to camp, Tsunade suddenly asked,
"Uchiha Shin-kun, why do you care so much about that Uzumaki family? There are plenty of people like them."
Uchiha Shin suddenly smiled.
"You didn't observe carefully just now, did you? That child's eyes are the legendary Rinnegan of the Sage of Six Paths."
"The Rinnegan? What is that?"
Tsunade looked puzzled.
And indeed, Madara's Rinnegan had been an accidental product born after biting off a piece of Hashirama's flesh.
Aside from Madara and Black Zetsu, no one knew the conditions required to awaken the Rinnegan.
After the war between Asura and Indra and the passage of the long Warring States era, the Rinnegan had almost never appeared again.
As a result, nearly none of the major clans had any records of it.
Uchiha Shin explained:
"I once read ancient Uchiha texts and various myths and legends. That's where I saw mention of the Rinnegan."
Tsunade nodded, not doubting him too much.
But she still asked,
"Is the Sage of Six Paths' eye really that powerful?"
The corners of Uchiha Shin's lips curled up.
"That child—once he grows up, with just a single thought, he could destroy Konoha completely."
"And not just destroy it—crush it."
"Do you believe me?"
Tsunade's pupils immediately shrank.
She stopped walking and stared at him.
Uchiha Shin's expression didn't change in the slightest.
Seeing that, Tsunade understood—he was not joking.
"Uchiha Shin-kun, I think sending just twenty people to escort them back to Konoha is still too dangerous."
"I'll send fifty—no, a hundred Senju Jonin to protect them!"
Tsunade said decisively.
Uchiha Shin's lips twitched.
"A hundred? And all Jonin? At that point, that force would attract everyone's attention."
"Don't forget, Konoha isn't the only force in the Land of Rain right now."
Tsunade thought about it.
That was true.
Then she asked,
"Then how many do you think is appropriate, Uchiha Shin-kun?"
Uchiha Shin crossed two fingers.
Tsunade understood.
"Ten?"
"That's right. Ten."
"A smaller target. And ten Jonin are enough to resist a forty-man squad."
"Before they make a move, who would know we sent Jonin at all?"
Uchiha Shin smiled.
Tsunade nodded.
She trusted his judgment greatly.
And so, ten Senju Jonin were assigned to escort Nagato's family.
Before leaving, Nagato even kissed Uchiha Shin on the cheek and waved goodbye to him.
Uchiha Shin smiled and waved back.
After resting and reorganizing for three days, a letter suddenly arrived.
Tsunade opened it.
It was in Uzumaki Mito's handwriting.
"Little Tsunade, thank you for thinking of your grandmother. They've arrived safely. Nagato is a very smart child, highly talented, and quite lovable."
"Hearing from the clan members, it seems your unit has suffered almost no casualties this time. Well done."
"You should keep observing, keep asking questions, and listen carefully to your commander's opinions."
At this point, Tsunade's face reddened slightly.
It seemed the returning clan members had already reported everything to Grandma.
"Lastly, Little Tsunade, the battlefield is no joke. You must be careful in everything."
"If anything happens, discuss it more—especially little Uchiha Shin's opinions."
"Grandma is waiting at home for both of you to return safely. I'll cook something delicious for you when you do."
That was where Mito's message ended.
A knowing smile appeared on Tsunade's face.
Just then, Uchiha Shin entered.
Seeing the smile on her face, he paused for a moment.
"Tsunade-sama, what is it?"
Then his eyes fell on the letter in her hand, and he immediately understood.
"A letter from home is worth ten thousand pieces of gold. Is it a letter from Lady Mito?"
Uchiha Shin pulled out a chair and sat down.
After these three days of reorganization, the local villagers had come to trust the conduct of their force.
So, led by the village chief, they had rented the army a room to use as an office, along with enough open space for tents.
That was why Tsunade and Uchiha Shin were able to discuss military matters here.
When Uchiha Shin walked closer, Tsunade stood with a smile and handed the letter to him, though he was sitting there with one leg crossed over the other.
"Here, read it. Grandma is praising you, telling me to listen to you more."
"And Nagato's family arrived safely in Konoha too. They're staying at home now, so you can stop worrying."
Tsunade was in a good mood.
Though they had only been fighting for three days, it had felt unbearably long.
Every day, her mind had been stretched tight with tension.
Now, this letter from home had soothed that restless anxiety.
Uchiha Shin reached out, took the letter, and read it carefully.
A smile rose on his lips, unable to hide his delight.
"Lady Mito is also praising Lady Tsunade for her discerning eye."
"If Lady Tsunade hadn't made the decision, I would never have had the chance to display my talents."
Uchiha Shin smiled.
"Grandma clearly told you to call her Grandma directly, so why are you still calling her Lady Mito?"
Tsunade snorted lightly.
Uchiha Shin stood, pressed her back into the chair, and said,
"Lady Mito is a senior, and the most honored person in Konoha."
"Besides, this isn't home. It's better to call her Lady Mito here."
Tsunade thought about it and found that it did make sense.
After all, this was the command office, and there were still two guards outside the door.
But wait—
What had Uchiha Shin-kun just done?
He had held her arms with both hands!
And pressed her into the chair!
How dare he?!
Still, looking at Uchiha Shin-kun's unchanged expression, it seemed like he had done it unintentionally.
Fine, then she would forgive him.
Though… his palms had been quite warm.
In that instant, Tsunade thought of many things.
Uchiha Shin, however, was completely unaware.
He walked over to Tsunade's desk and lowered his head.
Looking at the map, he fell into thought.
Yesterday, scouts from Lord Orochimaru and Lord Jiraiya had come to the village and said the forces would converge today.
And this village was the rendezvous point.
Thinking about it now, they should have arrived already.
Just as that thought crossed his mind, the guard at the door pushed it open and, after saluting Tsunade and Uchiha Shin, said:
"Lord Uchiha Shin, Lady Tsunade, Lord Orochimaru's army and Lord Jiraiya's army are already waiting at the village entrance."
After speaking, he dropped to one knee and waited for instructions.
Tsunade immediately stood, about to head out, but Uchiha Shin quickly stopped her.
"Tsunade-sama, right now our unit is a fully rested, full-strength force."
"With the armies joining together at this moment, a supreme commander will definitely be chosen."
"And the most likely outcome is that Tsunade-sama will be selected as overall commander."
"If you go out personally to receive them now, your momentum will already fall by a degree."
"I know you value your bond as fellow disciples."
"But for the position of supreme commander in this battle, you must contend for it."
"Whether as political capital for yourself, or for the safety of the Senju troops, you must remain steady right now."
Uchiha Shin's words made Tsunade part her lips slightly.
She hadn't expected that even something as simple as going out to greet them had this much significance behind it.
"Then… Uchiha Shin-kun, what should I do?"
Tsunade asked.
She knew in her heart that Uchiha Shin was doing this for her sake.
Uchiha Shin said calmly,
"You only need to sit here."
As he spoke, he pointed to the main seat in the office.
Then he continued,
"After that, I'll go receive Lord Jiraiya and Lord Orochimaru."
"You only need to wait here."
After thinking it over again and again, Tsunade still shook her head.
"That won't do. The three of us are still fellow disciples. If I don't go out to receive them, it would be inappropriate."
Uchiha Shin opened his mouth, then, after thinking of the bond between them, shook his head and sighed.
Perhaps this was the bond of the Sannin.
He did not try to persuade her further.
Instead, he followed behind Tsunade as the two headed for the village entrance to receive Orochimaru and Jiraiya.